Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at Fordham University

Fordham's Romance Languages program places graduates nearly $10,000 ahead of the national median for this field, ranking in the 95th percentile nationally—but context matters here. Within New York State, where foreign language programs at Columbia and Colgate push earnings even higher, Fordham lands at the 60th percentile. The $44,073 starting salary still beats most Romance language programs nationwide, just not the elite tier in its own backyard.

The $27,000 debt load is remarkably manageable for a private university, coming in below both state and national medians. That 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can reasonably expect to pay this off, especially given the 19% earnings jump to $52,464 by year four. For families worried about humanities majors at expensive schools, this represents unusual fiscal restraint—Fordham students aren't carrying the crushing debt often associated with private liberal arts education.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so your child's experience could vary significantly. Still, for a student passionate about languages and set on a private New York university, Fordham delivers competitive outcomes without the debt trap. The program won't match Columbia's earning power, but it costs far less upfront and positions graduates well above most language programs nationally.